Education: TDHS Students Will Take Part

FIGHTING DRUGS THROUGH EDUCATION

Tilbury District High School students are about to bring an important
message to the young people in their community.

However, there's one catch - no adults allowed.

A unique peer-mentorship program, called Challenges, Beliefs, Changes
(CBC), will discuss substance abuse in a comfortable and
non-judgmental setting.

"Teens are taught to be teachers," TDHS principal Pam Dobbs said.
"Kids can talk to kids the way adults can't."

The initiative was organized by Dobbs, Chatham-Kent Police Special
Const. Charlene Mitchell and public health nurse Stephanie Hillman.

A presentation was given Tuesday during a drug education night at
McNaughton Avenue Public School.

Dobbs said the pilot project will begin this week in Tilbury schools
and will also take place in surrounding areas.

"I'd like to see it spread," she said.

Dobbs said she was even contacted by a person in Oshawa who wanted to
learn more.

While she only planned to have 15 students involved, interest was so
strong that 25 will take part.

They also helped design posters for the campaign, which is geared to
those in Grades 8 and 9.

Sam Dawson, 15, said the interactive program will focus on alcohol,
tobacco, marijuana and prescription drugs.

"Young people are concerned with their image and the impression they
leave on their peers," she said.

Dawson said discussions are confidential unless there's reason to
believe a student is in danger.

Student mentors were trained in February and provided with the needed
information to clarify substance myths and misconceptions.

Participants can also discuss how they overcame challenges, with each
situation respected.

About 30 people attended Tuesday's presentation, which featured
several speakers.

Mitchell provided statistics on drug use, saying prescription
medication is a problem, as well as traditional drugs.

A survey from the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health was
conducted in a sampling of Grades 7-12 and showed:

. 58.2 per cent tried alcohol;

. 25.6 per cent tried marijuana;

. 17.8 per cent tried prescription drugs for non-medicinal purposes; and

. 11.7 per cent tried tobacco.

Mitchell said parents should lock up prescription medication and
return unused drugs to the pharmacy.

"Most pharmacies will take these medications back," she said.

She said impaired driving among youth is another issue.

However, Mitchell said the good news is that teaching young people
about alcohol and drugs is impacting rates of use.

"Everything is dropping," she said. "It's through education and awareness."